ASE A7 Heating and Air Conditioning Certification Test Exam Guide

The A7 exam has 60 total questions (50 of which are scored) and you get 75 minutes to complete it. A separate recertification version is shorter, with 25 questions and a 30-minute time limit.

ASE charges a $62 fee for this test, plus a separate $34 registration fee that applies per order rather than per test. Check the official ASE fee schedule before you register, since pricing can change.

ASE requires 1, 2, or 3 years of relevant hands-on work experience, depending on your training and education background. The exact requirement for your situation is set out in ASE's work experience guidelines.

An initial ASE A7 certification is valid for 5 years. You can renew by taking the shorter 25-question recertification test, or extend a certification by a year at a time by earning 8 continuing education credits.

The exam covers three content areas: Heating, Ventilation, A/C, and Engine Cooling System service and diagnosis (21 questions, 42%); Refrigeration System Component diagnosis and repair (10 questions, 20%); and Operating Systems and Related Controls diagnosis and repair (19 questions, 38%). The ASE Automobile Study Guide breaks each area down further into specific tasks.

Yes — 10 of the 60 questions on the certification test are unscored research questions that don't count toward your result, so only 50 questions determine your score. If you don't pass, you can retest by registering and paying the fees again; there's no grounded limit here on how soon you can retake it, so check ASE's current retest policy.